The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has decried poor remuneration and welfare of teachers, as well as persistent attacks on schools across the country.
The NUT National President, Mr Audu Amba, stated this on Tuesday at the union’s 59th National Conference of Delegates in Enugu.
The conference, which began on Monday and ends on Wednesday, has the theme: ‘Deployment of Technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Education Will Erode the Place of Teachers in the Classroom: A Myth or Reality?’
Amba, while reviewing education and the teaching profession, identified poor remuneration and welfare, teacher shortages and decaying infrastructure among major challenges confronting the sector.
He also listed inadequate instructional materials, underfunding, insufficient professional development, insecurity and attacks on schools among the sector’s major challenges.
Amba called for increased government investment in education, improved teachers’ welfare and full implementation of incentives approved for teachers.
He said the incentives included a special salary scale, bursary awards, pension scheme, career-path policy, housing and loan facilities.
The NUT president expressed concern over attacks on teachers and students, saying some had been killed, injured or abducted while performing their duties.
He urged governments at all levels to strengthen security around schools and fully implement safe-school initiatives.
Amba also called for full implementation of the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers Act, 2022.
The Act increased teachers’ retirement age from 60 to 65 years and length of service from 35 to 40 years, whichever came first.
He also opposed the concession of King’s College, Lagos, to the King’s College Old Boys’ Association under a Public-Private Partnership arrangement.
Amba said the union considered education a public responsibility and fundamental right.
He said the NUT would continue working with governments and stakeholders to improve teachers’ welfare, professional development and education quality.
Also, Gov. Nasir Idris of Kebbi said his administration did not owe teachers pension or gratuity.
Idris said the state had also implemented the extension of teachers’ service from 35 to 40 years, in line with harmonised retirement provisions.
The governor reflected on his years of public and union service, saying he had been involved in public service since 1996.
He said he had dedicated many years to representing workers and contributing to public responsibilities.
Idris emphasised the importance of leadership, defending the interests of the people and remaining committed to public service.
He appreciated teachers and other stakeholders who had contributed to his career and acknowledged dignitaries and participants at the conference.
Similarly, Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State said his administration regarded spending on education as an investment rather than an expense.
Mbah said his administration had allocated about 33 per cent of its annual budget to education in each of the last three budget cycles.
He said the investment had supported the construction of 267 Smart Schools and more than 7,000 classrooms across the state in three years.
According to him, the administration has also reformed teaching and learning methods to prepare children for a rapidly changing world.
Mbah said the world was increasingly driven by technology, artificial intelligence, robotics and other emerging fields.
He stressed that no education system could rise above the quality of its teachers.
The governor said investment in digital infrastructure must therefore be accompanied by investment in teachers.